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July 15
Jacob Nisibis, John Ball, Emmeline Pankhurst, Vivian Malone Jones, the Destruction of the Temple, and the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis
David Barnhart
July 15, 2025
Cemetery Gate, Canterbury, 2022. Own photo.
Today in the year 70, the Roman army invaded Jerusalem and went on to destroy the Temple. Although the Gospel of Mark likely predates this event, Matthew and Luke were written after. John was likely written almost thirty years after.
Today is the Feast Day of Jacob of Nisibis, who lived in a region which is now part of Turkey, and who died around 350. He was an anchorite and lived a hermit’s life before becoming bishop.
Today marks the martyrdom of John Ball, English priest and social activist, in 1381, who preached social equality and justice for peasants. He is often considered the leading theologian of the Peasant’s Rebellion, for which he was imprisoned multiple times, excommunicated, and eventually drawn-and-quartered.
Today is the birthday of Emmeline Pankhurst, in 1858, who helped organize the women’s suffrage movement of the United Kingdom. Her organizing and theory of change continues to affect community organizers today.
Today is the birthday, in 1942, of Vivian Malone Jones, civil rights activist and the first Black student to graduate from the University of Alabama.
Today is also the European Union’s Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis.
Reflection:
Emmeline Pankhurst said,
“We have to free half of the human race, the women, so that they can help to free the other half."
and
“Governments have always tried to crush reform movements, to destroy ideas, to kill the thing that cannot die. Without regard to history, which shows that no Government have ever succeeded in doing this, they go on trying in the old, senseless way.”
and
“Well, we are showing them that government does not rest upon force at all: it rests upon consent.”
John Ball preached:
“From the beginning all men by nature were created alike, and our bondage or servitude came in by the unjust oppression of naughty men. For if God would have had any bondmen from the beginning, He would have appointed who should be bond, and who free. And therefore I exhort you to consider that now the time is come, appointed to us by God, in which ye may (if ye will) cast off the yoke of bondage, and recover liberty.”
There is a good video on John Ball and the Peasants’ Revolt here.
Prayer: Creator, we have violated the sacredness of your Earth and the sacredness of our equality with each other. Restore us to right relationship with both human beings and your planet. Amen.